Police start new training after racial profiling complaint

February 15, 2018

WALPOLE, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts town’s police department is implementing anti-bias training because of a racial profiling complaint filed by a black man who was pulled over and frisked on his way to his mother’s house.

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice said Thursday that the Walpole Police Department has agreed to introduce new training in response to the complaint filed by John-Paul Wahnon.

Wahnon says he was followed by police after leaving a shopping center in 2016. He was pulled over, was frisked and had his car searched.

Walpole Police Chief John Carmichael apologized to Wahnon in a statement and said the issues raised by his complaint will make Walpole “a better police department.”

The Lawyers’ Committee says the town will also pay unspecific damages to Wahnon.